Cristina Amione

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of human haemoglobin chains

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of human haemoglobin chains has been devised. Using a LiChrospher 100 CH-8/2 column and a ternary eluent (acetonitrile-methanol-0.155 M NaCl, pH 2.7) improved resolution was achieved between (delta beta) Lepore, beta A, beta S, alpha, G gamma and A gamma chains within a 60-min linear gradient. The A gamma T chain can also be separated by increasing the gradient time and decreasing the flow-rate. Silanophilic interactions play an important role in the retention mechanism, and NaCl addition was necessary in order to suppress adsorption on free silanols. Increasing the methanol concentration to 10% caused a slight increase in chain retention, probably owing to solvation of the stationary phase. The recovery was 82% and the reproducibility of retention times was as good as +/- 1.5%. Quantitation of chains is likely to be possible by peak area measurement. Owing to its sensitivity, the proposed method may be useful in the diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies and in the study of haemoglobin variants.

Increased QT Interval Dispersion Predicts 15-Year Cardiovascular Mortality in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects The population-based Casale Monferrato Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the predictive role of increased corrected QT (QTc) and QT interval dispersion (QTd) on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a large, unselected type 2 diabetic population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The prospective study included 1,357 type 2 diabetic patients from the Casale Monferrato Study. At baseline, QTc intervals >0.44 s and QTd intervals >0.08 s were considered abnormally prolonged. Both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were assessed 15 years after the baseline examination. RESULTS During the follow-up period, 862 subjects per 12,450 person-years died. Multivariate analysis showed that the hazard ratio (HR) of cardiovascular mortality was significantly increased in subjects with prolonged QTd (1.26 [95% CI 1.02–1.55]) and was only slightly reduced after multiple adjustments. Conversely, prolonged QTc did not increase the HRs for all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS Increased QTd predicts cardiovascular mortality after a long-term follow-up period in a large, unselected population of type 2 diabetic subjects.

The co-activator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) gene is overexpressed in type 2 diabetes

PurposeWe examined the expression of a panel of epigenetic enzymes catalyzing histone tails post-transcriptional modifications, together with effectors of metabolic and inflammatory alterations, in type 2 diabetes.MethodsCross-sectional, case–control study of 21 people with type 2 diabetes and 21 matched controls. Total RNA was extracted from white cells and reverse transcribed. PCR primer assays for 84 key genes encoding enzymes known to modify genomic DNA and histones were performed. Western blot was performed on lysates using primary antibodies for abnormally expressed enzymes. Hormones and cytokines were measured by multiplex kits. A Bayesian network was built to investigate the relationships between epigenetic, cytokine, and endocrine variables.ResultsCo-activator-associated aRginine Methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) expression showed a five-fold higher median value, matched by higher protein levels, among patients who also had increased GIP, IL-4, IL-7, IL-13, IL-17, FGF basic, G-CSF, IFN-γ, and TNFα and decreased IP-10. In a Bayesian network approach, CARM1 expression showed a conditional dependence on diabetes, but was independent of all other variables nor appeared to influence any.ConclusionsIncreased CARM1 expression in type 2 diabetes suggests that epigenetic mechanisms are altered in human diabetes. The impact of lifestyle and pharmacological treatment on regulation of this enzyme should be further investigated.

Adult corkscrew ureter

A 35-year-old man with a history of type 1 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy and moderate to severe chronic renal disease was admitted to our hospital because of bilateral obstructive hydronefrosis secondary to fibroepithelial polyps of the bladder and of the ureter. Double J ureteral stents were inserted with complete hydronephrosis resolution and polyps were removed. The patient was lost at follow-up. Six months later he came to the Emergency …